Self-heating dentifrice

Abstract

There is disclosed a stable anhydrous self-heating dentifrice which contains an anhydrous synthetic zeolite as the sole or major abrasive, a hydroxypropyl cellulose gelling agent and a propylene glycol humectant as the essential ingredients.

We claim: 
     
       1. A stable anhydrous self-contained heat releasing dentifrice which generates heat in the mouth consisting of a finely divided anhydrous synthetic zeolite having an appreciable heat of hydration and capable of being reversibly dehydrated as the sole or major polishing agent in amounts of about 20 to 50% by weight, about 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one flavoring agent, and about 20 to 75% of an anhydrous liquid vehicle, consisting essentially of propylene glycol gelled with a finely divided solid hydroxy-propyl cellulose polymer having a molecular weight of 60,000-1,000,000, said dentifrice being prepared in a substantially anhydrous environment. 
     
     
       2. A dentifrice according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic zeolite is a crystalline metal alumino silicate, said metal being selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, zinc, copper and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gelling agent constitutes about 1-5% by weight of the total formulation, and the propylene glycol constitutes 35-60% by weight thereof. 
     
     
       4. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 1, which additionally contains about 0.5 to 5% of a surface-active agent. 
     
     
       5. A dentifrice according to claim 4, wherein the surface-active agent is anionic. 
     
     
       6. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 5, which also contains a sweetening agent and wherein the flavoring agent is a flavoring oil in an amount of about 0.5 to 2% by weight. 
     
     
       7. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 1, which contains up to about 20% of an additional dentally acceptable, water-insoluble, anhydrous finely divided polishing agent. 
     
     
       8. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gelling agent is hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer having a molecular weight of about 300,000. 
     
     
       9. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 7, wherein said additional polishing agent is an amorphous alkali metal or alkaline earth metal alumino-silicate containing at least 70% silica, up to about 10% alumina and up to about 10% sodium oxide. 
     
     
       10. A dentifrice in accordance with claim 3, wherein the anhydrous environment constitutes a vacuum of at least about 20 inches and up to 30 inches mercury.